This course will provide students the opportunity to negotiate and draft complex agreements that a lawyer advising a sports team/owner and/or their counterparties , would encounter. Students will learn about the various components of complicated deal documents and have the opportunity to then draft these documents. Students will also explore and experiment with negotiating strategies. Overall, the goal of the course is to have students master skills relating to negotiating, drafting, and analyzing the various “moving parts” of complicated sports venue-related agreements.

The class will meet for one week beginning on February 24, 2014 and ending on March 1, 2014.

The class will begin with a unit on stadium lease agreements (Class 1). From there, as time permits, we will discuss naming rights agreements (Class 2) and proceed to discuss some more specific agreements: presenting sponsorship agreements (Class 3); media rights agreements (Class 4); an agreement with a provider of hospital and medical services, and a provider of financial services (Class 5); and the drafting of concert agreements for sports venues (Class 6).

Class Reading Assignments: The required text will be PETER A. CARFAGNA, NEGOTIATING AND DRAFTING SPORTS VENUE AGREEMENTS (2010), which is available at Book Horizons, or online from Amazon or Westlaw. Attached is a list of topics that will be covered in class, using the relevant portions of Professor Carfagna’s book and the attached supplemental reading materials as a guide.

There are 8 topics and 6 Class Sessions, as well as the weekly assignments relating thereto, per the Syllabus. All Required Readings, Course Study Guides and the Optional Readings will be available on the TWEN. Hard copies of the Required Readings will also be available at the Copy Center.

Class Writing Assignments: In addition to the reading assignments, there will be writing assignments, which will be assigned and started in class and due by the following class meeting. You should form groups of 4 people in which to complete the class assignments. One copy of each writing assignment should be turned in per group by 5:00 p.m., prior to the next Class Meeting, via e-mail to: umsportslaw@gmail.com and christinamhimmel@gmail.com.

A copy should also be emailed to the Assignment Drop Box on the course TWEN site. Each group member should also be copied on each writing assignment.

You should take turns with your group taking primary responsibility for your group’s submission. A hard copy of each group’s written assignment should also be brought to the next class for discussion.

Class Participation: The seminar will be highly focused upon classroom participation. As such, it is very important that you come to every class having done the reading and therefore being ready to participate actively. If you miss one class, you will be allowed to complete a make-up assignment. If you miss more than one class, you will have to present a valid reason for missing the second class before receiving permission to complete a make-up assignment.

Grading: The final grade will be primarily based on a Final Exam (to be handed out during the final class). The final, take-home exam will be due to the Registrar’s Office on March 21st, 2014 on or before 5:00pm. At my discretion, I reserve the right to adjust grades up or down based on class participation. An upward adjustment reflects high quality contributions to class discussion and excellent group work. Alternatively, a downward adjustment reflects a student’s failure to properly prepare for class and participate in class/group discussions.

Guest Speakers: Guest Speakers will be announced, as the Syllabus and the Speakers’ schedule permit.

Disabilities: If you have a disability, or suspect that you may have a disability, the Law School encourages you to contact Iris Morera, Coordinator, Disability Services at the Office of Disability Services for information about available opportunities, resources, and services. Her phone number is 305-284-9907, and her email address is imorera@law.miami.edu. You may also visit the Disability Services website at www.law.miami.edu/disabilityservices.

Short Course Attendance Policy
Due to the small number of meetings, attendance to all meetings/classes for short courses is mandatory. Students who miss more than one class session (80 minute) of a 1-credit short course are subject to administrative withdrawal and will have a W for the course on their transcripts.